Incoming Taiwan president courts diplomatic allies with shrimp fishing

TAIPEI – President-elect Lai Ching-te took leaders from some of Taiwan’s handful of remaining diplomatic allies shrimping on May 19, the day before he takes office and has to deal with China which believes the island has no right to the trappings of a state.

Mr Lai, detested by Beijing as a “separatist”, is expected to pledge to secure stability by maintaining the status quo in the island’s relationship with China

in his inauguration speech on May 20

.

Beijing views proudly democratic Taiwan as its own territory, over the strong objections of the government in Taipei, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

Only 12 countries now maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, mostly poorer developing nations such as Paraguay, Eswatini, Palau and St Lucia.

Taiwan has faced a sustained campaign from China to get the remaining allies to recognise Beijing instead. China snatched back Pacific island-state Nauru from Taiwan shortly after Mr Lai won the election in January.

“We will work with all sides to build a nation of prosperity and maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” Mr Lai said at the covered shrimp fishing pond in Taipei’s foothills. Shrimping is a popular Taiwanese leisure activity.

“And Taiwan is not alone. We have been working with international friends like you all who also uphold the values of democracy, freedom and human rights,” Mr Lai added, speaking in English.

Mr Lai was seated next to Eswatini’s King Mswati III, Africa’s last remaining absolute monarch, whose country was rocked by violent pro-democracy protests in 2021.

The 64-year-old Lai, widely known by his English name William, hugged Paraguay President Santiago Pena as he arrived.

Since Mr Lai won the election in January, Taiwan has faced ongoing pressure from China, including regular air force and navy activities close to the island.

Also in attendance on May 20 will be former US officials dispatched by President Joe Biden, and lawmakers from countries including Britain, Japan, Germany and Canada.

The previous week, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Mr Lai, who it called the “Taiwan region’s new leader” had to make a clear choice between peaceful development or confrontation.

Mr Lai’s domestic challenges loom large too, given his Democratic Progressive Party lost its parliamentary majority in the January election.

On May 17, lawmakers punched, shoved and screamed at one another in a bitter dispute over parliamentary reforms the opposition is pushing.

There could be more fighting on May 21 when lawmakers resume their discussions. REUTERS